Pitterson’s Learning Conversations

Our students spent a week learning about the candidates for President.  They learned information about the candidates themselves from articles in Weekly Reader and Scholastic News.  Then we looked at the issues that are important to students:  healthcare, education, and Iraq.  After learning what each candidate had to say about these three issues, the students overwhelmingly voted for Barack Obama.  Prior to our discussing the issues students had opinions about who they wanted to be president.  I was so proud of the students that after looking at the issues the students made their decisions based upon the issues relevant to them.  I hope they will continue to look at issues and make decisions based upon them when it comes to voting.

I will be in Washington, DC for the Inauguration.  I am trying to get tickets for the Inaugural events and my plan is to teleconference with the students during this time.  I will be in Washington, DC from Friday,  January 16 through Wednesday, January 21, 2009.  (The students will have an exceptional substitute teacher so I’m leaving them in good hands).  I am excited to be in our nation’s capital during the time of this historical event and look forward to sharing my stay with the class.

Thank you to all of the parents that participated in our Student Led Conferences.  I hope you were as impressed as I was with how well your students shared with you many of the activities we do in class.  The goal was to give you an idea of what we do in class everyday along with share how your child is performing with the First Grade Arizona State Standards.  If you left the conference with any questions, please feel free to write me a note in your child’s Agenda or give me a call before or after school.  If you were unable to attend, please contact me and let me know if you are available to come in for a conference or perhaps we can have a phone conference.  I want each of you to know your child’s strengths and needs.  Let’s partner together to benefit your child.
Estudiante Conferencias Conducidas
Gracias a todos los padres que participaron en nuestro Estudiante Conferencias Conducidas. Espero que usted fuera impresionado por como bien su niño hizo. Los estudiantes compartieron muchas cosas que hacemos en la clase. Quise que usted supiera sobre nuestro día y supiera como su niño hace en el Primer Grado. Si usted dejara la conferencia con al-guna pregunta, por favor siéntase libre de escribirme una nota en el Orden del día de su niño o hacerme una llamada antes o después de la escuela. Si usted fuera incapaz de asistir, por favor póngase en contacto conmigo y avíseme si usted está disponible para entrar para una conferencia o quizás podemos tener una conferencia telefónica. Quiero que usted sepa fuerzas de su niño y necesidades. Vaya a trabajar juntos para beneficiar a su niño.
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On November 17th, the students of Barry School will have the opportunity to listen to children’s book author Jennifer Ward.  Ms. Ward has written some wonderful books and we look forward to hearing her ideas to help us become better writers ourselves.  You will have the opportunity to purchase some of Ms Wards books, a order form will be sent home the first week in November.  Your child will receive their own hardback copy of the book, “The Seed and the Giant Saguaro.”  You are also welcome to stop by and listen to Ms Ward speak to us.

El 17 de noviembre, los estudiantes de la Es-cuela de Barry tendrán la oportunidad de es-cuchar al autor de libro de niños Jennifer Ward. Sra. Ward ha escrito algunos maravil-losos libros y tenemos ganas de oír sus ideas de ayudarnos a hacernos mejores escritores nosotros mismos. Usted tendrá la oportunidad de comprar algunos libros de Sra. Wards, una hoja de pedido será enviada a casa la primera semana en noviembre. Su niño recibirá su propia copia de libro de tapa dura del libro, “la Semilla y el Gigante Saguaro.” Usted es también bienvenidos se detienen brevemente y escuchan a Sra. Ward nos hablan.

The First Grade Team, minus our two new members, had a productive day of summer work. We created our norms for collaboration as well as mapped out our Assessment Plan to address first quarter standards. The work was taxing at times trying to fit in twelve “Power Standards” into nine weeks of instruction but with a little integration of similiar standards we created six Assessment Plans. Now we will create common assessments for these plans. We fully embrace the concept of assessment driving instruction, we fear an overload of assessments decreasing the amount of instruction. Education is a challenging and rewarding field.

Please view this video then add your feedback. PLC Continuum  What can we do to get to the next level?